Festival of Trees ready for visitors at South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy

By Emiley Morgan , Deseret News

Published: Monday, Nov. 26 2012 5:25 p.m. MST

LaRee Laesen places a top hat on her snowman as she decorates a tree for the Festival of Trees on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at the South Towne Exposition Center. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

SANDY — As she has for several years, Marie Partridge watched Monday as the South Towne Exposition Center was transformed into the Festival of Trees.

Those decorating had from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to set up and decorate in advance of the invitation-only silent auction. The auction, set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, will feature a number of items in addition to trees, including quilts, gingerbread houses and wreaths.

"It's a magical place," Partridge said. "Everyone is serving together for the same purpose of helping children. It's wonderful."

Partridge has spent seven years on the board of the 42-year-old festival that organizers call a "gift of love" to children at Primary Children's Medical Center. Since its inception in 1971, the festival has raised more than $30.8 million for the children's hospital.

A few thousand people prepare trees and other decorations for the Festival of Trees on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at the South Towne Exposition Center. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

"It gets in your blood," she said, "and you want to do more."

The Festival of Trees attracted 100,000 people last year, Partridge said.

"That's a good amount of people to go through these doors in four days," she said. "We're excited for that."

The Festival of Trees will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.